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women’s 63 kg: THE GREATEST SURPRISE

  Svetlana Tsarukaeva (RUS) Favourite Svetlana Tsarukaeva (RUS) made early exit from the field. The fancied Russian lifter could not manage her starting 107 kg in snatch. Maneza (KAZ) was reported due to heavy pain in her elbow she could not compete.At the halfway mark, Nekrassova (KAZ) had the first position with a 110 kg snatch followed by Pak Hyon-Sun (PRK) and Lu Ying-Chi (TPE). Nerkassova started her clean and jerk with 130 kg and she had a big step with 135 kg next, but she failed two times. Lu was successful only by her first lift of 127 kg, but finally it turned out she could get a bronze in total. After two missed attempts at 135 kgsuccess at her last attempt gave PAK a total of 241 kg and the gold medal. Nekrassova (KAZ) Pak Hyon-Sun (PRK) Lu Ying-Chi (TPE)    

The similarity is roaring

Look at these pictures. The similarity is roaring between former Olympic champion, Turkish Mutlu and the title holder of Beijing 56 kg class, Chinese Long.This young Chinese boy seems to be bred on Mutlu's movements. Almost like twins. Regarding Long's fantastic Beijing performance it looks Mutlu had a wise decision not to compete this Olympic Games, at the fifth time in his life. Will Long achive Mutlu's great goal to be the first ever four times Olympic Champion of weightlifting? As a 17 years old teenager he is already one step closer. With his talent and diligence and with Mutlu type of dedication he can achieve this goal in 2020 when he will be 29. It is not an age. His idol is of course Mutlu, but he attacks his world records and wants to brake them next time.

Men’s 69 kg: Two Chinese for one gold. Plus some other…

Shi Zhiyong (CHN) This is the only division where weightlifting superpower China send two lifter. Shi Zhiyong (CHN) is a fantastic competitor , placed either first or second at every world championhips during the last 5 years, but has not equalled his best total of 350 kg since 2005. Following his 2004 Olympic victory, he moved up to 69 kg category.Liao Hui (CHN) is another newcomer selected to the team when he lifted this year's best (355 kg) at the national team trials in April. 20 years old Liao set a junior clean and jerk world record of 190 kg last december and added 20 more kilos to his total since then.Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan (ARM) has this year's European championsips title with totalm of 346 kg. He set up junior world records in snatch (158 kg) and total (346 kg). He is stronger in snatch and his placing mostly depends on his final result in this discipline.He and Athen's runner-up Lee Bae-young will cause hot moments challenging the Chinese duo. Liao Hui (CHN) Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan (ARM)

Women’s 63 kg: The pressure on Tsarukaeva (RUS)

Liu Haixia (CHN) Tsarukaeva (RUS) Pak Hyon-suk(PRK) With the absence of Chinese world champion Liu Haixia, Tsarukaeva is the favourite as her best is beyond the capability of other lifters.She is the silver medalist of last year WC.Among her main rivals Pak Hyon-suk(PRK) is on the first place. She got third position of last year WC. She can be a real threat for the Russian lifter.They seem to present a fierce competition in this category.Two women of Kazakhstan, Nekrassova and Maneza nominated the highest entry total. This pair can be the dark horse

Men’s 62 kg Press conference quotes

Zhang Xiang Xiang /CHN/ Diego Salazar /COL/ Triyatno /INA/ Zhang Xiang Xiang /CHN/, gold medalist: "I had a chance to run with the Olympic torch as a relay member. My turn came a day later, 13th of May as the tragical earthquake we suffered. This experience helped me a lot in my training and finally to win the gold medal. I could not be in sure in this victory as I was not sure about my entry at all. It was announced just very shortly before the Games started. I think our management decision was a good one to select me." Diego Salazar /COL/, silver medalist: "You can list on the score sheet, it tells everything. I was the only one on the field of 62 kg whose all the 6 attempts were good." Triyatno /INA/, bronze medalist: "My friend's, Irawan's medal won yesterday had a great influence on me. My hand got injured during the snatch. The first discipline made me very tired. These were the reasons I failed my first two attempts in clean and jerk. Who remembers of these mistakes. Here I am with a bronze medal."

Men’s 62 kg: China’s fourth gold out of five

  Zhang Xiangxiang (CHN) China's fourth victory was managed by Zhang Xiangxiang who won his first Olympic gold medal after lifting 319kg in the Men's 62 kg. Twenty-five-year old Zhang (Sydney bronze medalist) had the best start by lifting 139kg in the snatch. Although he failed to lift 143kg with his second attempt, he finally succeeded and led the list after the first discipline. Ji Hun-min (KOR) also did well with a 142kg lift. Diego Salazar (COL) and Im Yong-su (PRK) tied at 138kg.Zhang's chance for final victory was settled even before stepping onto the podium in the clean and Jerk. First Ji surprisingly failed all three attempts trying to lift 161kg. Then the other Korean, Im also stumbled under the pressure, spending all his attempts at 169kg to no avail. Salazar took his chance and succeeded in lifting 167kg for the silver medal. Zhang then lifted 169kg and 176kg to seal his first gold. He also tried to break the world record, with no success.Indonesia's Triyatno earned the bronze with a total weight of 298kg. Diego Salazar (COL) Triyatno